Amusement device



July 9, 19465 R. B. w. FRANKLIN AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 9

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented July 9, 1946 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Robert B. W. Franklin, Dallas, Tex.

Application september 9, 1944, serial No. 553,324

Claims.

the seating frame is rotatably mounted. The

result is that the seating frame will continue to rotate until interrupted by the application of'a brake or by the concerted effort of both riders to resist the action involuntarily imposed as the rotating frame reaches certain positions in its travel radius.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement device in which maximum safety features have been incorporated and to insure uniformity oi balance and consequent equal distribution, in cases where there is a diierential between the weight of the riders, a sliding counterbalance is incorporated as well as an auxiliary and detachable counterbalance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described having facilities for the safe loading and unloading of passengers, with provision for-.the gradual slowing and stopping of the machine, through the medium of a brake adapted to be operated by an attendant.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a riding device constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail view in section of a counterbalance auxiliary to the sliding counterbalance on the machine frame, adapted to be detachably secured to one of the seats.

'Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the machine and,

Figure 4 is a plan view thereof.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, reference numeral I0 denotes a base which may be constructed of concrete or other materialr and on which is disposed the supporting frame of the riding device and which consists of a plurality of uprights I I in spaced apart groups. While it is obvious that these uprights, as other elements of the supporting and rotating frame, may be constructed of any suitable material, it is preferred that these consist of pipe, suitably tapped and threaded and connected together with appropriate fittings such as elbows, Ts, unions, nipples, flanges and the like.

It has been found that by using pipe in the construction of the device the latter can be readily assembled and disassembled to facilitate removal from place to place by reasonv of adaptability of the device to fairs, Carnivals and the like.

The uprights IIsupport a shaft I2 and'midway between the ends of this member, there is formed what may be referred to as a stationary crank pin i3, on each side of which is journaled bearings it, affording the sole support for the rotatable riding frame which will now be described.

`The riding frame consists primarily of two transverse and relatively parallel members or pipes I5, supported intermediate their ends by the bearings I 4. One of these pipes has an elbow I6 at each end, forming a connection for a short pipe il, disposed at right angles to the pipe I5 and aligned behind and supporting the back I3 of the seat I9 at each end ofthe riding frame. The companion. pipe I5 terminates shortof the seats Itand carries an elbow 20 on each end, the latter in turn receiving a short section of pipe 2l which latter extends downwardly and is connected to a T 22. This T 22 receives the end of the longitudinal pipe 23, extending lengthwise of the riding frame below and in parallel relationm ship with the upper pipes I5. There are two of such pipes 23, one on each side of the riding frame below the pipes I5 and which reinforce the riding frame longitudinally.

' In axial alignment with the pipes 23 are short pipe sections 24, on whose ends are mounted elbows 25, into which are threaded short, vertical pipes 26. On the tops of these pipes are mounted elbows 21, into which are threaded theends of transverse pipes 28 (Figure 4;), which underlie the forward edges of and provide support for the seats IB. In parallelism with pipes 26 are pipes 23, to which the ends of the pipes 28 are joined by means of Ts 30.

Foot boards 3| extend between the lower reinforcing pipes 23, with their ends resting upon the short extension pipe sections 24. The spacing between the vertical and relatively parallel pipes 2l and 26 provide an area through which a pasof the seats I9 and after having been seated, straps 32 are buckled in over his thighs while straps 33 are extended about his torso as a safety measure.

Inasmuch as the riding frame is adapted to rotate in a complete circle about the supporting shaft I2, loading of'the riding frame must be eifected with the latter in the horizontal position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the seats I9 are obviously well above the base I D and the passengers of necessity must be provided with means for reaching them. This means consists of stepladders 34, two of which are employed, one ,supporting one end of the riding frame while another supports the opposite end. Figure 3 shows only one of such stepladders but actually another is disposed similarly in relation to the opposite end of the frame. After each rider has mounted the stepladder and has taken his position in the seat I9, he is strapped in and both stepladders are removed.v Each rider grasps hand grips 35 with both hands and through cooperative effort, the connecting rod 36 is reciprocated.

The connecting rod 36 which is longitudinally adjusted through the union 31 is connected at one end to a pipe 38 which extends between relatively parallel pipe sections 39 and these pipe sections in turn provide connections between the hand grips 35 and a transverse mounting 49 which latter extends between the two upper and relatively parallel pipes I5. The opposite end of the interconnecting pipe 36 is journaled in a bearing 4 I mounted near the upper end of the pitman 42. The upper end of the pitman 42 is oscillatably connected to the transverse pipe 38 of the operating assembly adjacent one operator and has its lower end similarly connected at 43 to the crank I3.

It has been stated previously that to insure equilibrium between passengers having different weights, suitable provision is made to bring about equal distribution of weight. This provision is made through the medium of a pipe 44 which is disposed in parallel relationship above one of the longitudinal pipes I5. 44 is a cylindrical weight 45, which is lockable in adjusted positions on the pipe 44 by a lock collar 45. Inasmuch as the riding frame unoccupied, is in true balance, any overbalance would be due to variation in weight of the two passengers. This is compensated for by moving the sliding counterbalance 45 to a position nearest the passenger of the lightest weight and locked in position. Should there remain any difference in weight, the auxiliary counterbalance shown in Figure 2 is applied. The auxiliary counterbalance 41, which latter consists of heavy blocks of metal provided with spaced apertures, is mounted on pins 48,- anchored in and extending outwardly from the back I8 of one of the seats I9. The spring retaining clips 49 are xed to each side of the back I8 and when the counterbalancing blocks 41 are in position on the pins 48, the clips 49 spring into position to positively hold these blocks against displacement. They are removed by springing the clips 49 outwardly to enable the blocks to be drawn ofi the pins.

In operation, the passengers take their positions in the seats I9 and are held therein by straps 32 and 33. By joint effort, the connecting rod 36 is pushed by one passenger and pulled by the other and a similar force is jointly applied, to the pitman 42. The obvious result would be a displacement of the riding frame by reason of the thrust imposed through the crank pin I3.

Slidable on the pipe After the frame gains momentum, continued rotation is a result of the involuntary action of the passengers themselves.

To insure such involuntary propulsion of the riding frame about its axis by the passengers, the crank pin I3 should be disposed on a horizontal plane rather than on the vertical plane as shown, but so illustrated to better exemplify the same in Figure l. By disposing the crank on a horizontal plane, the pitman 42 will be on substantially dead-center position in relation t0 the crank pin at the starting position or, in other words, when the frame is on a horizontal plane. Thus, the propelling force depended upon for involuntary propulsion is reserved until the frame is at such an angle as to make it obligatory or at least instinctive for the ascending passenger to support himself by the handle b-ars 35, thereby imposing a propelling force on the pitman, while the descending passenger, for the same reason, will exert an equal propelling force on the complementary handle bars.V The result is obvious, i. e., the frame will continue to revolve until the brake is appliedV by an attendant. For example, when the passenger on the right in Figure 3 approaches the bottom of thc circuit, his subconscious impulse is to support himself by the hand grips 35, and in so doing he exerts a greater pull on the connecting rod 36 than he normally would in other positions of the circuit. Conversely, his companion, in an effort to resist gravity in a diametrical position in the circuit, will involuntarily impose his entire weight on the hand grips 35 and as a consequence he imposes a greater thrust on the connecting rod 36. These effects occur alternately and unless bothv passengers simultaneously exert a concerted eiort opposite to that of their natural impulse and against the normal movement of the hand grips, the riding frame will continue to revolve unless otherwise stopped by an attendant.

In order to control rotation of the frame, a brake drum 50 is mounted on the shaft I2 but isV connected to one of the bearings I4 so that it will revolve with the frame. A brake band 5I surrounds the drum 5I! and to its ends are connected straps 52.

The ends of these straps are connected to one end of a rod or a pipe whose opposite end is secured to an oscillatablle, transverse pipe 54, mounted on the inner of the series supporting pipes and uprights II. A strap 55 is connected to the inner end of the pipe 53 at one end and to the upper end of a lever E6. The lever 56 is pivotally mounted at 51 on the base ID and is provided with a handle 58 at its upper end. An operator standing beside the machine and bearing down on the handle 58 of the lever 56 will exert a pull on the strap 55 to move the pipe 53 downwardly and thereby exert a pull upon the straps 52 to contract the band 5I on the drum 50 to stop the frame from rotating.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be 'construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. An amusement apparatus including parallel ruprights supporting a shaft at its ends, a crank pin midway between the ends of the latter, a rotatable frame suspended intermediate its ends to said shaft and havingpassenger seats at each end thereof, transverse shafts mounted on said frame, spaced inwardly from said seats, manually actuated cross-members oscillatably mounted on said shafts, means interconnecting said cross members, a pitman connecting one of said crossmembers with said crank pin whereby manipulation of said cross members will constrain said frame to revolve on its supporting shaft, means for counterbalincing the load on said frame and brake means for resisting rotation of said frame.

2. An amusement apparatus including an elongated frame suspended for rotation on. a transverse axis and having passenger seats at each end thereof, hand actuated cross-members reciprocably disposed forwardly of each of said seats and interconnected for common reciprocation, a crank pin intermediate the ends of the axis of said frame, a pitman rod connecting one of said cross-members with said crank pin whereby movements of said cross-members will be effective to rotate said frame through displacements thereof by said crank pin.

3. An amusement apparatus including an elongated frame having confronting seats at each end and mounted for rotation about a transverse axis midway between its ends, a crank pin intermediate the ends of said axis, a pitman connected to said crank pin, and means jointly actuated by passengers in said seats for alternately imposing compressive and tensional stresses on said pitman to effect continuous displacement of said frame, contraining the same to rotate on said transverse axis.

4. A device as described in claim 3, further defined in that a brake drum is mounted on the frame at said transverse axis and surrounded by a brake band, and means for contracting said brake lband on said drum from a position beside the said device.

5. A riding device including a frame having seats accommodating two passengers, and mounted on a horizontal axis, the latter having a crank pin, and hand bars arranged relative to said seats to cause the passengers therein to involuntarily propel said frame around said axis.

ROBERT B. W. FRANKLIN. 

